Recreational roller toy



Patented July 9, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECREATIONAL ROLLERTOY Thomas Thompson, Bothell, Wash.

Application May 6, 1944, Serial No. 534,388

3- Claims. 1

This invention relates to a roller toy and it is primarily an object ofthe invention to provide a device of this kind which is readilyconvertible to permit the same to be used during all seasons of the yearafter the fashion of a ski.

Furthermore, it is a particular object of the invention to provide adevice or toy of this kind especially designed for use by juveniles forboth a winter and a summer sport after the fashion of skiing and whereinthe device is of a character to be employed upon dry and hard smoothsurfaces as well as upon snow-covered surfaces.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of thiskind including a runner body in close simulation of a conventional skiand wherein means are provided for applying to the runner bodylongitudinally spaced rollers to enable the runner body to be employedupon dry and hard smooth surfaces with the same facility as uponsnow-covered surfaces and wherein the applied rollers are so positionedupon the runner body to assure requisite distribution of balance andcontrol.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improvedrecreational roller toy whereby certain important advantages areattained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing,wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a device constructed inaccordance with an embodiment 85 of my invention and having rollersapplied thereto;

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the device as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in top plan of the device with the rollers removedand the device converted for use on a snow-covered surface; and

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the assembly as illustrated inFigure 3 with a portion broken away to further illustrate theapplication of the filler block for the intermediate opening of therunner body.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the runner body I is inclose imitation of the conventional ski but is of a size reducedsuificiently to enable the same to be employed to advantage by childrenfor recreational purposes. The under surface of this runner body I issmooth and unobstructed. The front or forward exin a manner of theregular type of skis and at a predetermined point intermediate its ends,the runner body I' at the transverse center thereof is provided with aslotted opening a in which is adapted to be placed a roller 2' of aradius to extend below the under surface of the runner body I.

This roller 2 is maintained in applied position by a removable axle 6which is freely insertible through the axial center of the rollers 2 andthrough the openings 22 disposed transversely through the runner body Iand communicating with the slotted opening a at substantially thelongitudinal center thereof. As is clearly illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, this slotted opening a has its longitudinal axisdisposed lengthwise of the runner body I. This slot or opening a ispositioned forwardly of the longitudinal center of the runner body I sothat the applied roller 2 will be positioned to assure proper balance.

The runner body I to the rear of the longitudinal center thereof but inrelatively close proximity thereto is provided with a transverselydisposed toe strap 3 extending above and across the runner body I andhaving each end portion rigidly secured to a side edge face of therunner body I. Immediately to the rear of the toe strap 3 the runnerbody I has rigid therewith an upstanding cleat 4 which extendstransversely of the runner body I and serves to provide means tomaintain the heel of the foot gear of the user in proper position.

The heel or rear end portion of the runner body I at its transversecenter and, of course, in longitudinal alignment with the slottedopening a, is provided with the longitudinally directed slot 0 open atits outer end. A second roller 5 is to be placed within this open slot 0and is also of a radius to extend below the bottom face or surface ofthe runner body I and this roller 5 is maintained in applied position bya removable axle I which is freely disposed through the axial center ofthe roller 5 and through the openings (1 in the heel or rear portion ofthe runner body I and which communicate with the slot 0 at substantiallyits longitudinal center. As illustrated in the drawing, it is to benoted that the rear of the applied roller 5 is substantially flush withthe rear end of the runner body I.

With the rollers 2 and 5 applied, the device can be employed upon a hardand smooth surface in the same manner and with the same exhilarationtremity of the runner body I is turned upwardly as upon a snow-coveredsurface and the use of the device with the applied rollers will be justthe same as when used on snow-covered surfaces.

when it is desired to use the device on a snowd surface, the rollers 2and 5 are removed afifi a filler block 2 is tightly fitted within theopening a. This filler block 2* in its central part is providedtransversely therethrough with an opening 6 which, when the block 2 isapplied, registers with the openings 1), whereby the axle 6 can beinserted through said registering openings and thus hold the block 2 inplace.

The rear end of the opening a is downwardly and rearwardly beveled, asat f, and the rea end of the block 2 is provided with a complementalbevel. This further assures the maintenance of the block 2 in effectivworking position with its under surface flush with the under surface ofthe runner body I As the opening 0 is open at its outer end it is notnecessary that a filler block be employed in connection therewith whenthe device is used to glide over snow-covered surfaces.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that arecreational roller toy constructed in accordance with my invention isparticularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience andfacilit with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim: I v

1. A device of the class described comprising an elongated runner bodyprovided with slots in its central and rear end portions, the undersurface of the runner body being otherwise free and unobstructed,rollers for arrangement within said opening and extending below thebottom surface of the runner body, axles removably inserted through thebod and the rollers for holding the rollers in applied position and afilling block for the central opening when the roller is removedtherefrom, the axle for said roller also providing means to maintain theblock in applied position.

2. A device of the class described comprising an elongated runner bodyprovided with slots in its central and rear end, portions, the undersurface of the runner body being otherwise free and unobstructed,rollers for arrangement within said opening and extendin below thebottom surface of the runner body, axles removably inserted through thebody and the rollers for holding the rollers in applied position, theheel slot opening through the heel end of the runner body, and a blockfor filling the centrally arranged opening when the roller is removedtherefrom, the axle for said roller also providing means to maintain theblock in applied position.

3. A device of the clas described comprising an elongated runner .bodyprovided with slots in its central and rear end portions, the undersurface of the runner body being otherwise free and unobstructed,rollers for arrangement within said openingand extending below thebottom surface of the runner body, axles removably inserted through thebody and the rollers for holding the rollers in applied position, theheel slot opening through the heel end of the runner body, and a blockfor filling the centrally arranged opening when the roller is removedtherefrom, the axle for said roller also providing means to maintain theblock in applied position, the rear end portion of the centrall arrangedopening being undercut and the rear end portion of the block being ofsubstantially complemental formation.

THOMAS THOMPSON.

